Energy may be our single largest and thorniest issue as we progress into the middle of the 21st century and some seriously big thinking about new ways to produce it will have to become commonplace in order for us to move away from carbon based fuels and towards renewable fuels and electricity. The World Wildlife Fund in partnership with Ecofys and the Office for Metropolitan Architecture’s AMO released a report yesterday that outlines a strategy 2 years in the making to end our need for carbon based fuel by 2050. The report is a broad but digestible vision of how civilization can adjust to a renewables-based economy. Like a similar report we profiled last week, the message is start now and think big.

A map of the World’s solar resources

The 253 page report is a two part look at how we can completely eliminate the use of carbon based fuels to run our cars, heat our homes, run our industry and power our grid. The first half, by the WWF is an overall look at the why and what of a new energy economy with a visual guide. The second part is an exhaustive list by Ecofys of the many factors that come into play for renewable energy to be our sole source of power and fuels.

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2 Comments

Well stated Carl, and the book looks to make for a provocative read. Envisioning a better world in detail is a critical function to getting beyond just fretting over what we are currently doing to this globe.

carl safinaFebruary 8, 2011 at 4:47 pm

This is so needed, because what we think is possible will help determine what we do. If we understand that it is possible, it will be possible. If we believe it isn’t, and that the problem is that we need more oil and coal, that will be our fate. A new book, “The View From Lazy Point; A Natural Year in an Unnatural World,” delves into this, and into the way corporations continue distorting public understanding, leading to policies on energy that are self-defeating ( http://bit.ly/gATt4E )